Excavating, ditching, and grading machine.



PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

o. G.'HUTCHINSON. 'EXGAVATING, DITGHING, AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

x x Q. 5 W

No. 834,729. I v PATENTED- OCT. so, 1906. 0. 0.-HUTGHINSON. 'EXGAVATING,DITGHING, AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED OCT. so, 1906.

- 0. 0. HUTGHINSON. EXGAVATING, DITGHING, AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7.1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' No. 834,729. I PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906. V U. C. HUTOHINSON.

EXOAVATING, DITGHING; AND GRADING MACHINE.

7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7,1905. 4

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4-.

' STATES ,PATENT OFFICE. 'CLlNTON (3. HUTQHI NSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON;EYXCAVAT'IYNG; DlTCHING, AND GRADING 'MACHINIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application filed September 7, 1906. Serial No. 277,384.

- To alljwh om it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON o. nUTC 'N-T SON, of Portland, in the countyof Mult-nomah, and inthe State of Oregon, have intion thereof, referencebeing had to the ace companying drawings, in Which Flgure 1 18.8,, planview of a machine constructed inl accordance with my invention,

the floor bein' removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with t e nearer,supporting and driving wheels removed, the 'axles'thereof beininsection. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of sai machine. Fig. .4 is a'detail view in-section on .the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is atransverse. section. indetail on the line D D of Fig. 3,.With some ofthe arts shown in elevation. ,'Fig. dis a detai view, in side eleva-.vantagp tion, of a portion. of the mechanism. for raising and loweringthe front end of the excavator, and Fig. 7 is a topplan view of thesame.-

My invention relates toexcavating, ditching, and grading machines," andhas amongits objects the. provision-of a machine of this descriptionwhich will enable the'discharge of the excavated material 'onthe sameside of thecanal or ditch-when the-machine is-traveling in .eitherdirection, which will enable dee eruworkingof the excavator in relation.

tot e wheel-levelthan is possible rwan prior machines with. which I amfamiliar; which can be operatedinsoils of various-sorts, in-

cluding veryilight material and materialzin-v eluding boulders, whichwill form trenches orditches with vertical side walls, and:.which may beoperated with greater speed of travel an requireless power chinesheretofore produced; and for-thea-tchine as hereinafter s ecified andclaimed. 1.,

In the machine which I have selected to illustrate .an embodiment of myinvention there is a frame composed oi lon itudinally-, extending beams1' and-'crossearns rand braces forming alight but strong structureandmounted upona rear .axle 93, on .which are journaled supporting anddrive wheels2,

and a frontaxle :on which arejournaled supor operating it inproportion-"to the material handled than .rna-

orting-wheels 3. In the space between the ront and rear axles andpreferably nearer the former is situated the excavator A, oonsisting ofa double share or cutter and mold-' board of one-or more parts, havinga'centrallv-located point with a laterally and rear-' wardly inclinedforward cutting edge and an upper surface so inclined upward andrearward as to readil .pass through-the soil or material and lift t esame without causing it to be moved laterally, and to prevent thematerial dug up passing sidewise from the excavator there is on eachside thereof a side plate-1".- The excavator Ais attached by twostandards 4 and 5, at both. sides'thereof, to a air 'oflongitudinally-extending beams 4 w ich form a frame or support by-whichthe excavator is rigidly su ported, and saidframe or; support is movab ysupported from the ma: chine-frame so that t e excavator may be raisedand lowered and adjusted; at the desired working. angle. For'thisurpose. there are pivoted to the front ends 0 the beams 4" aforwardly-extending stirrup 7, whose front end is pivotally connected tothe lower endof there are pivoted to the rear endsAof-said beams 4rearwardly and ,upward-ly inclined bars 27, which at their rear ends arerespectively pivoted to-the two side beams 1 of the machine-frame. Thebars 27 may be attached to the beams 4 at oints farther for- ;wardthanshown, and, if esired, additional jba'rs may be employed. 1

. Tofthe lever. 8 is attached a clevis-10 for theattachmentof-draft-animals or other I ower for moving the machine forward, it

; eing observed that there is thus a direct connection of the power withthe excavator as well as the remainder of the machine. Be-

sides-the excavator A the beams 4? support near their front ends atread-wheel 6,. journaled-in a bracket pivoted'to said beams, so

that it may be adjusted up or down for different de the of cut, andcutters 95, situated just'in advance of the excavator A in suchositionas to engage and turn any rocksor bouldersthat may be encountered inoperating in soil or'material containing them and push or roll-themaside, if of a large size, and

preven their passing to the conveyers.

To t e front end of the'frameformed by the beams 4 there is attached achain or:

cavator A is delivered at the rear end of the latter to an elevator B,that consists of an cable 11, that thence extends upward and 'over asheave 12 and from the latter extends hand-wheel 23, by which'it may berevolved,

a pawl and ratchet-wheel 22 being, as usual, provided for the drum orWindlass. From the rear end of each of the beams 4 achain or cable 26runs tothe drum or Windlass 21'.

It will be seen that by means of the drum or Windlass the excavator maybe raised or lowered, as the sheave 14, over which the chain or cable 11passes, is vertically movable, and for this reason it is journaled in-abearing-block 15, having a vertical threaded opening through which thethreaded portion of a vertical shaft 1'7 passes, so that by therevolution of said shaft (which is provided at its up I end with a crankor hand wheel 20,

by w ich it may be revolved) the bearing-I block 1-5 may be raised orlowered, and thus the sheave 14 raised or lowered, and thereby the angleat which the excavator works adjusted. The drum or Windlass 21' isjournalcd in bearings 24, supported by uprights or posts 25, rising froma cross-piece 17 of the machine-frame. At its upper end the screwshaft17*, is journaled in a bearing 18*, supported by the posts 25, and atits lower end it has a bearing in a projection 19 on a block 16, whichhas guides for the slide-block 15 and which is attached to and supportedby the frame cross-piece 17. Collars 18, respectively above and belowthe lower shaft-bearing 19, pinned or otherwise fastened to-t'he shaft17*, restrain the latter from longitudinal movement when it is revolvedfor'the pur pose of raising or lowering the sheave-carry ing block 15.

Material lifted by and passing over the exendless apron or conveyor 34,passing over a roller 37, situated a short distance in advance A of therear end of the excavator, but below the upper side of the same, andpassing over a roller 33, said rollers 33 and 37 being journaled inhearings in and supported by'a frame com rising two side bars 36, thatfrom the re ler 37 incline rearwardly and up wardly, so that the upperside of the aprontravels om the mold-board rearwardly and upward As theelevator B pass-es beneath the rear axle 93 the latter isarched where itcrosses the elevator to allow the latter to be carried upward at itsrear end to .the required height. The roller33 is carried by a shaft 31,the ends of which project beyondthe ends of the roller and have bearingsin tances apart between the rollers and 37,

and to prevent material being carried up by the apron 34 spilling fromthe sides thereof tliereis at each side of the latter a side plate 39.

.Power to drive the apron of the lifter B is taken from the drive-wheels2 'in a wellknown-manner, eaohidrive-wheel being pm vided with a gear65, with which noodles a:

pinion 66 on a transverse shaft 6'], journaled in bearings 68 on theframe-beams 1, upon which shaft 67 is-a' band or sprocketwheel 69, fromwhich a-belt or spnoeketwhain 70 runs to a sprocket-wheel 32 on theshaft 31. The pinions 66 areprovideias usual,.with

ratchet mechanism for connecting them to the shaft 67.

By means of the elevator Bthe enoavated material is-cariied rearwardin'llne Withthe direction of the ditch-or trench being: dug,

and it is therefore necessaryto provide means for carrying such-materialto-one side of the ditch, and for this purpose I provide a conveyer C,which receives material from the elevator-B. and carries it laterally tothe desired position at one side of the ditch or trench. The conveyer Cis similar in com struction generally to the elevator B, it comprisingan endless apron on carrier 60, which from a point beneath and' slightlyfor ward of the rear end of the elevator Bpasses over a roller 55 andthence extends outward! and laterally and preferably upward to aroller61, said-rollersbeing jonrnaled in bearings in parallel side bars 53The-side bars 53 of the conveyor C near their inner ends are pivotallymounted on' the hnhsor bearingspieces 52 on the arms of an lioriaontallyrotatable or swinging yoke or open frame 51-, so that the conveyer'G mebe raised or-lbwercd at its delivery end y vertical! movementon'saidhuhs andrswung horizontally on the yoke or frame 51' to place itsdelivery and at either side of the machine, so that asmey be desired thematerial may be deposited upon-the same side of the ditch on trenchirres ective of the direction of travel off the mac 'ne, which undersome conditions is very desirable-as, for example, when a trench orcanal is; being excavated alongside of-ahill'.

It will be seen: that by employment of the yoke or open frame 51 asdpport for the ear- I 2 5 rier C is possible above it, and} thisenables the provision of a support of ample strength to sustain theheavy side thrust of the carrier and enables. the inner end of thecarrier to be situated quite low down, a low position as 1 0 brackets29, fastened to the machine-frame, and at the lower forward ends of theside bars 36 the latter are loosely attached to the excavator sid s l bya horizontal rod 38, whose ends ai in elongated'holes or plates 1-, Itwill I possible ofthe inner end of the carrier C be- 1ng desirable,because it avoids undue lengthemng of the elevator B and the machine.

The ninerend of the carrier is projected to at least a point where italines with'the'side.

of the elevator B,'and it is thereb assured that all material comingfrom thee evatorB will be received by the carrier 0, and as a portion ofthe carrier C at the receiving end thereof will at all times-beinposition to re ceive all material coming from the elevator B, evenwhen shifting the carrier C from one side of the machine to the other,it is possible,

if it should be desired, to shift the carrier C to place itsdeliveryend'fromone side of the machine to the other while the machine is working.'

For raising and lowering the carrier C there is pivotally. attached tothe side lates 53 a stirrupSO, to which is attached a s eave 81,fromwhic'h a chain or cable=85 passes over a sheave 84and thencethrougha block 82, in which the sheave 84 is journaled, and which blockis supported from the frame of the machine b a light framework composedof bars 83,'an from the block 82 it passes to a drum or Windlass 87,supported on posts or uprights 88', rising from the machine-frame,

which Windlass is provided with a handwheel 90 and pawl and ratchet 89.One end .of the chain or cable 85 is fastened to the block 82. There aretwo sheaves 84 on opposite sides of that "ortion of the chain or cablewhich passes t ough theblock 82 to the drum or Windlass, so thatwhether,the.

carrier C be swung to one side of the machine ort'he other there will bea sheave 84 for the chain or cable to work over. I

"eig ty degrees to transfer its delive 5 5 pivoted in a bearing 49 atthe rear end of a- The yoke or frame 51, which constitutes the pivotalsupport onwhich the carrier'C ma be revolved through one hundred ang enfrom one side of the machineto the ot er, is

ournaled at its upper end in a vertical bearis also attached to andsupported by a transverse bar or beam 44, whic at its ends is supportedfrom the side beams l'by blocks t itslower end the yoke or frame 51 isorizontal bracket 48, which is bolted to and extends rearwardly'from anupright or post the rear axle 93 for ivotally sup orting the yoke orframe51 47, extending downward from each side frame 1, each/post 47being suitablybraced by a bar or brace 29, that extends therefrom to Theframeworkdescribed wit the carrier is a light but strong one. i Passingthrough an having bearings in the, arm-hubs 52 is a shaft 57, which isused 'teria its receiving enda cross-piece 63 for a simiready been said,,so that only a brief description of itsb eration is now necessary. e

as the means for transmitting ower to theapron 56 to move the latter, anfor this purpose it is provided on each end with a bevel gear 58, whichgears are adapted to mesh, respectively, with two gears 77 on a trans'-.verse shaft 76, according as the carrier Cis in position at one side ofthe machine or the other, the gears 77 'being on oppositesides of aplane passing rearward through the axis of the yoke or frame 51. Motionis imparted to the shaft 7 6b a sprocket or band wheel .75 thereon, whicis connected by a band or .chain 74 with a sprocket orband wheel 73 onthe shaft 67. On the shaft57- is a band or sprocket wheel59, from whicha belt or chain 60 runs to a sprocket or band wheel 61 on the carrier 0;a

, shaft of the roller at thedischarge end of the For firmly holding theo in position at one side of themachine or the other .an eye .or socket.96 is provided on each side beam 1,

and arr-eye or socket 96 is provided on each side bar 53- of the carriernear the outer end thereof, and a rod or'bar 97, whose opposite'endsai'e bent at rightangles, is inserted at oneendinthe appropriatesocket 96-and at the other endiin, the a propriate socket 96'. i

The, conveyer-VG, li e the elevator B, has side pieces '68 to preventspilling of the maover the sides of the apron 56 and at lar pu ose,androllers 55'are rovided at,

interva s' between the'endrol 'ersof the apron and, if desired, theconveyer C may be made in sections. 1

Reinforcing-blocks 54' are applied to the .sidepieces 53 of .theconveyer C where the bearings for the shaft 57 are situated, and inparticulars which it is not thoughtnecessary to mention themachine-framework is braced or stiffened, it being understood,- ofcourse,

that such details of construction as these do not relate to theprinciple of thednvention, but are matters which may be employed ornotor varied according to the necessities of the structure of the machineandthe work it is designed to do.

It is thou ht the operation of my machine will be readi y understoodfrom what has alexcavator is lowered to the position for making the'desired depth of cut by operating the. drum or Windlass 21 by means ofthe hand-wheel 23, and the inclination of the excavator is adjusted tothe desired angle by revolvingthe screw-shaft 17 to move the sheave1-4v'ertically to cause it to act upon the chain or cable 11.

lifted by the excavator A and delivered therefrom to the apron oftheelevator B and by the'latter be carried backward and u ward anddiseharged'upon the apron of t e carrier 0, by means of which it will bepassed The-machine being. drawn forward, the soil or material will belaterally and finally discharged at apoint on one side of the ditch orcanal being'excavated, the outer or discharge end of said'car rier Cbeing adjusted to such'height as may be necessary or desirable by meansof the Windlass 87, operated through'th'e medium of the hand-wheel 90.'Should the travel of the machine be reversed and'it be desired todeliver the material upon the same side of the ditch, this can be doneby swinging the carrier 0 on'the yoke or frame 51 to place its deliveryend upon the opposite side of the machine. p By the employment oftheelevator B and the carrier C, so that the newly-excavated materialmay be carried backward and up ward. and thence-to one side of the ditchor canal I am enabled to cut a ditch or canal with vertical side Wallswhich of course cannot be done where the excavator must itself turn thenewly-excavated material sidewisev or laterally, and as bymyconstruction a comparatively slight angle may be given the excavator andthe elevator B a cut of con- I siderable depth can bemade, the frictionof outer or discharge end at either si e of the machine, operatedbypower appliedat the discharge end. i

2. In an excavating-machine, the combi nation of an excavator, aconveyer for the discharge of excavated material', consistim of anendless a ron that extends laterally and upward, and 1s shiftab-le toplace its outer place its delivery end-ateither side of the machine, anda hearing or supporting means which permits such shifting situated abovethe conveyer.

6. In an excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, a conveyerfor the discharge of excavated material, shiftable to place its deliveryend at either side of the machine, and a pivotal support for saidconveyer at the inner or receiving end thereof, arid situated above theconveyer.

7. In an excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, amaterial-carrier receiving material from the excavator, and carrying itlongitudinally of the maclnne, and a conveyer extend mg transversely ofthe machine receiving material from the materialcarrier, saidconveyer-being shiftable to place its discharge end at either side ofthe machine, and bein extended at its receiving end so that at al timesduring its movement from one side of the machine to the other itreceives all the material coming from the carrier.

8. Inan excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, a conveyer,a pivot for said conveyer whose axis is vertical, and

bearingsfor said pivot, bothabove and below the conveyer.

9. In an excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, a conveyercomprising a movable member, a pivoted support for said conveyer havinga vertical axis upon which theconveyer may be shifted to place 10 5 its'delivery end at opposite sides of the machine, bearings for said pivotedsupport both above and belowthe conveyer, and gearing or discharge endat either side of the machine, l for driving the movable member ineither of .5 and means for imparting. motion to said con= its positionsat opposite sides of the machine. I 1 o v'eyer, acting thereon at itsouter end.

-. '3. In an excavating-machine, the combi nation of an excavator, aconveyer for the discharge of excavated material, consisting of an apronand rotatable supports for the apron, said conveyer extending laterallyto deliver material at the side of the machine, and one of saidrotatable supports being situated at the outer or discharge end, meansfor applying power to said rotating support at the outer or dischargeend of the conveyor, to impart motion tothe apron, and a support for theconveyer that permits the shifting of the position thereof to place itsdischarge end at either sideof the machine.

4. In an excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, ahorizontally-movable conveyer for excavated material, consisting of anendless a ron and rotatable supports therefor, one 0 which is at theouter 10. In an excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, aconveyer, a driving mechanism therefor including a shaft, bearings forthe shaft, and a pivotal support for the conveyer, comprising frame-barspivoted r15 on the shaft-bearings.

11. In an excavating-machine, the combinationof an excavator, aconveyer, a verticallyvpivoted frame for the conveyer, drivmechanism forthe conveyor, comprisin r 1 20 in a Irorizontal shaft journaled in armsof sai frame, and conveyer-frame bars pivoted to hubs on said arms.

12. In an.excavatingmachine, the combination of an excavator, a suitableframe, a 12 horizontally-movable conveyer, and a brace rod or barextending between said frame and the conveyer.

13. Inan excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, asuitableframe, a 1 0 disagree horizontally-movable conveyor 'shiftableto 'opgosit'e side's'of the-machine, and a bracero or bar to extend fromthe frameto the j conveyer, ada ted to be connected to said frame andsa1 conveyer at both sides of the machine.

' 14.- In an excavatingmachine, the combination of ani exea'vator, amaterial-carrier pivotally connected to and" receiving mate'- rial fromthe excavator and carryingiit longitudinall l of'the machine, .thepivoted connection ein in a slotted bearing and a con-.

. iveyer 'exten ing transversely of the machine receiving material fromthe material-carrier.

15.. In-an excavating machine, the combination .of an excavator, amaterial-carrier I pivot'allyconnected to and receiving mate-. rial fromthe excavator and carrying it longitudinally of the machine the pivotedconnection being in a slotted bearing, a second carrier receivingmaterial from said first-mentioned carrier, and shiftable horizontallyto change the position of its-delivery end.

16'. In an'excavating-machine, the combination of'an excavator, amaterial-carrier receivingmaterial fromthe excavator and-'car-- Eying 1tlongitudinall of the machine, and a exible connection etween theexcavator and said carrier comprising a pivot'mounted in anelongatedbearing-slot.

j 17; In an excavating-machine, the combi-' nation of an excavator, suporting means therefor whichfpermit its ang e'to be adjusted, and amaterial-conve er that. is flexibly connected with and receives materialfrom the excavator, whose receiving end is movable with the excavatorsaid flexible connection consisting'of a'rod on'one ar flanda slottedbearing therefor on the ot er'part.

18, In an excavating-machine, the combination of an excavator, meansfor'changing the angle thereof, a materlal-carner; and a flexible connectionbetween the receiving end of the latter and the exoavator saidflexibleconne ction' consisting of a rod on one part and 'a' slottedbearing therefor on the other art." 7 V v i 19.. 11 anexcavating-machine, the combifnation'of an excavator and. a material-carrier that is slidably and pivotally connected with" the excavator thatreceives material tor-and said carrier permitting longitudinal movementof one relative'to the other.

In anexcavating-machin 'the combi-fl". nation of a suitable frame, anexcavator" movably' su'p orted therefrom, a material--,

vator, a loose connection betweenthe excae carrier exten ing rearwardlyfrom theexcavator and said carrier, that ermits longitu dinal movementof one relative to thefother' arid'a frame.

651. pivotal support'for said carrier. on the, j.

22, Inan excavating-machine, the :combination of a frame, an excavator,and. links ivo'tally connecting the excavator with said ame at the frontvator.

23. ,In an excavating-machine, the combi I nation of a frame, anexcavator having-a Y frame or support, links" at the forward'part ofsaidsupport' pi-votally connecting it to the first-mentionedframe, andlinks at-the rear of said support pivotallyf connecting it tosaid firstmentionedframe,

24. In an excavatingachine', the combination of a frame,

a excavator movablysupported therefrom, means for raisin and 1 loweringthe excavator, including a ca 16' or f Y chain and a shiftable sheave,and means for shiftinilthe position of said" sheave.

devices in front thereof.

- 26. In an excavating-machine,---the combination of a wheel suppor'tedframe, an exca' vator, a draft-clevis Iconnectionsfbetween sa1d. clevlsand said frame,.and connections between said clevis and theexcavatorj. v

27; In an excavating machine, theeombie nation of 'an' excavator, amaterial-conveyor shiftable' horizontally to different positions,

an excavating-machine, the combi.- nation of an excavator, andboulder-engaging f a rq e or chain for raising and loweringsaidconveyer, and two pulleys or guides for co'--- operating with the ropeor chain in the differ ent' positions of said conveyer.

28'. In an excavating-machine, the combi nation of a movably-supportedexcavator,-a

. chain or rope for moving the same, a pulley" or guide for the chain orrope, and means for moving said pulley or'guide to change the angle ofthe excavator.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I havehereunto set my hand.

CLINTON. C. HUTCHINSON; Witnesses: TRUMAN J. GLovEn,

, F. E. MANGOLD.

.110 and rear ends of the exca-

